Campaign finance decision may hurt Jewish influence

JTA - Ron Kampeas
...Most pro-Israel and Jewish civil liberties groups still operate under the tax code as 501(c)3 organizations -- religious, educational and charitable groups. This classification allows donors to write off contributions as a tax deduction but bans direct participation in the political process.

Groups with this classification are limited to pronouncements on issues and ideas: They may, for instance, speak generally about care for the environment or about energy conservations, but they cannot endorse or oppose specific candidates.

Last week’s Supreme Court ruling opens the way  for corporations to directly attack candidates.

......Were those battles to be replicated under the new rules, oil companies could marshal astronomical funds well out of the reach of pro-Israel donors to depict candidates as harming U.S. interests overseas.

......Saperstein said the decision made the case for greater involvement in which judges make the bench.

"It dramatizes the need for the Jewish community to get involved in nomination fights,” he said...  Full story